In an Indiana jail, Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer, who pled guilty to crimes relating to the Capitol incident, had feces and urine thrown at him and received death threats, according to his lawyer.
Schaffer was transferred to a Washington, D.C., jail before being released on bail in April after the statements made during a March court hearing were published on Thursday.
Schaffer’s attorney Marc Victor said at the hearing, “My client, who is presumed innocent, has just gone through two months of hell where other people were throwing feces and urine at him and threatening his life in a horrendous, horrible circumstance.”
Due to his pub, Schaffer was separated from the rest of the class.
Schaffer, a self-described founding member of the Oath Keepers, was the first insurgent to plead guilty and cooperate with federal authorities. He faces a sentence of 3.5-4.5 years in prison.
Schaffer claims to be a founding member of the Oath Keepers and faces a sentence of 3-5 years in prison. Those appear to be severe penalties, but he appears to be in for a rough 18 months or so.
After Schaffer’s arrest, it was announced that Iced Earth was breaking up.
Stu Block and Luke Appleton, the lead singer and bassist for the popular heavy metal band quit after the group’s founder, Jon Schaffer, was arrested for storming the Capitol building during the Donald Trump incited riot on January 6.
Block and Appleton announced on Monday that they had left the band. They cited Schaffer’s role in the deadly insurrection as the reason why they have walked away. Stu, who was the band’s lead singer, stated that the insurrection caused him to re-evaluate his life, work, and future.
Appleton, the group’s bassist, added that he felt he had no choice but to resign after what took place in D.C. on January 6.
Both men took to social media to share separate statements regarding their departures.
“In response to recent events and circumstances, I have notified Iced Earth’s management and [guitarist] Jon [Schaffer] that I will be resigning as the Iced Earth bassist with immediate effect,” Appleton wrote. “I would like to thank everyone who has sent me their support and love during this difficult time. Thank you!!!”
Block added: “I have informed Jon and his current management that I must announce my resignation from Iced Earth with immediate effect.
“Well, there are times and events when you have to take stock and reevaluate your life, work, and trajectory for the future. That being said I have informed Jon and his current management that I must announce my resignation from Iced Earth with immediate effect. Before I made any personal decision, I needed the last few weeks to process the situation as well as respect others in our camp processing the situation. I thank you all very much for respecting this. It’s the best decision in many ways for my personal/professional growth going forward. Time to move on, heal and prosper. Much love and respect to you all.”
The band also issued a final statement about Schaffer’s participation in the insurrection.
“We absolutely DO NOT condone nor do we support riots or the acts of violence that the rioters were involved in on January 6th at the US Capitol building,” the other members wrote in their statement. “We hope that all those involved that day are brought to justice to be investigated and answer for their actions. With broken hearts, we are sending our love and compassion to everyone who has felt pain from the events on January 6th.”
Schaffer, Iced Earth’s founder, turned himself into a federal agent last month. The FBI claims Schaffer sprayed Capitol police with “bear spray.”
